sean

You living in Castleknock now Vic? Very posh.

Fair enough mate, but my point from as far back as last year is that they're not as good as most of the sides that have dominated our domestic scene of late. I put their points haul last year down to a weak-ish premiership and their ability to out-physical the best and the worst the league has to offer. You can't really defend 3 things in modern football - speed, muscle and genius. They've got the muscle in abundance.

They are a fantastic side, Cobs, but more to do with a solid work ethic than any individual genius, yet one or two of these lads are proclaimed by all and sundry as 'the best in World/Europe'. JoséMourinho is the best man-manager bar none I have ever come across. I think myth is greater than their ability, but certainly, they're a fantastic side.

Very difficult to concentrate as we did against them for a full 90 minutes. You have to be willing to slug out a 0-0 draw or you'll be beaten. Very few sides can do this.

Been thinking that for a long time, it seems his creativity has been stifled somewhat. Always seems to pick the easy option, which is a good trait for a left back, but for someone like him to be afraid to take responsibility speaks volumes for the manager.

Not exactly in same league as Cryuff or Maradona tho'

A real central midfielder, does both, breaks things up and gets on the end of moves with good runs. Was talking to Graham Kavanagh since Saturday and he said he's never seen anything like the running power of Steven Gerrard last weekend. A monster is the way he described him. As good without the ball as he is with it.

He was schite, Mike, as he normally is in a game such as this. Sometimes I get the impression the only thing justifying his huge reputation is his fantastic finishing rate for a midfielder. He takes up some wonderful forward positions, but he's central midfielder. In my day we called that cheating.

has he ever played well against us, as another big game passes him by? Maybe we've got the measure of his runs and his crab-like passing. The new Paul Scholes. Invisible.

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You expect me to read other people's posts?

Reckoned from the beginning that the signing of Michel Owen for us would be quite unlikely were it left solely down to the manager. We've allegedly come about some money that the manager wasn't aware of, something to do with taxes and currencies (??). There's no pressure for him to sign him, but the powers that be in the club and the sponsors reckon it would be a good move for the club and not just in a footballing sense. Owen is desperate to come back. A centre back of quality will definitely be added, but we all knew this anyway.